DENNIS LENNOX: GOP candidate for Senate wanted

If you had asked me a few months back who would run for the Senate seat opening up next year with the retirement of longtime Democratic incumbent Carl Levin, I would have rattled off the names of a half-dozen Republicans.

Though Gov. Rick Snyder, Attorney General Bill Schuette and Candice Miller, the popular member of Congress from Macomb County and twice-elected secretary of state, could always change their mind and run under pressure from GOP grandees, the reality of the matter is the Michigan Republican Party needs a senatorial candidate.

With Democrats settling on Gary Peters, who presently represents parts of Oakland and Wayne counties in the House of Representatives, Republicans cannot let Peters define the narrative of the senatorial campaign.

Advertisement

Republican Party chairman Bobby Schostak may have locked his proverbial sights on Peters, but the party is no substitute for a candidate. After all, itís a little difficult to be against someone when you donít have an alternative.

Simply put, Peters cannot and must not be underestimated.

By portraying himself as a middle-of-the-road, pro-main street Democrat, he has consistently won elections ó first to the state Legislature and then to Congress ó that should have been out of play for a politician whose record is much more liberal than meets the eye.

Considering the fact that open Senate seats are extremely rare, there should be a long list of Republican hopefuls.

Unfortunately, that isnít the case.

In fact, the lack of action is concerning many of the partyís foot soldiers, who want a candidate for what should be a slightly GOP-leaning race given that Snyder will be on the ballot for re-election to the governorís mansion.

The list of those who remain interested in running include two

Congressmen: Mike Rogers of Livingston County and Justin Amash of Kent County. From there, former state GOP chairman Saul Anuzis and Terri Lynn Land, who was Millerís successor as secretary of state, have mused about running, though itís doubtful either would challenge Rogers.

Amash and Rogers bring a lot to the race, but both have considerations that could keep them out.

Rogers has a plum position as chairman of the all-powerful House Intelligence Committee that gives him a lot of national prestige.

Amash, on the other hand, is a leading Ron Paul disciple who would have to give up his role as the House helpmate to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, heir apparent to his fatherís libertarian dynasty, in order to run against Peters.

Another factor that cannot be ignored is Petersí financial advantage. With no opponent, he can spend all of his time raising the millions of dollars it will take to win.

Besides not having a candidate, Republicans are worried about a contested primary dividing the party and forcing precious cash to be spent on what amounts to a political scrimmage.

If Republicans are serious about winning then the time is now for Schostak to exercise his prerogatives as chairman by drafting the most viable candidate and, if necessary, changing the rules to prevent a repeat of the three-ring circus that was the 2012 senatorial campaign.